Mercedes was born in Tunja (Boyacá), Colombia, on November 18, 1930.
At the age of 22 she entered the Monastery of the Discalced Carmelite nuns of Villa de Leyva, receiving the name of Mary Celine of Saint Therese, returning in 1979 to her baptismal name.
Her intense spiritual life led her to make a vow to do always her best. Endowed with special human gifts, the sisters of her community chose her as Prioress, a service she held for 24 years. In 2007 she went to Garagoa (Boyacá) to found a new monastery of Discalced Carmelite nuns.
She died in this city on May 19, 2012.
On December 12th, 2019, the Garagoa diocesan Inquiry on her «life, virtue and reputation for holiness» began.
